Gas Accounting Manager

JOB SUMMARY:   

This position is responsible for managing a staff of 5 Accountants and 1 Accounting Supervisor, to ensure that revenue and accounts receivable for Nicor Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Virginia Natural Gas are recorded in accordance with GAAP.  This requires a deep understanding of the billing and reporting systems, and frequent communication with the Billing, Rates and Regulatory, and IT teams.

 
JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

•BS/BA in Accounting, or equivalent academic education
•Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred
•10 plus years of accounting experience
•4 or more years of Accounting supervisory experience
•Ability to understand business system design and work with large data sets
•Ability to apply accounting concepts to determine appropriate treatment accounting
•Ability to work effectively across functions to accomplish objectives
•Ability to manage workload across the group to accommodate projects
•Strong analytical skills, including understanding of report and query design concepts
•Regulatory accounting experience a plus
•Public accounting experience a plus
•Experience with business systems implementation a plus  

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:  

•Manage the financial close process for Nicor Gas revenue accounting, including performance of SOX controls and preparation of information required for external reporting, to meet all monthly, quarterly, and annual deadlines.  Includes monthly analytical reviews of balance sheet items to explain changes over time, and research to determine the appropriate accounting under GAAP when new situations arise. 
•Ensure accurate reporting of revenue and accounts receivable for Nicor Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Virginia Natural Gas by designing and monitoring the daily revenue validation process and month end unbilled process. 
•Manage the preparation of information required for regulatory reporting and initiatives, including rate case preparation and resulting data requests, to meet all deadlines. Work with the Rate Case team and outside counsel on data request responses to ensure that all aspects of a question are appropriately addressed. 
•Serve as the Accounting Lead in any billing or revenue reporting system project, ensuring that the design will meet all financial and regulatory reporting requirements.  Work closely with IT to resolve any production issues that arise.  
•Monitor customer refunds for Nicor Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Virginia Natural Gas, and work with Accounts Payable, IT, Credit and Billing to resolve any issues in check generation. 
•Manage the monthly preparation of payments to the State of Illinois for Energy Assistance assessments and to Illinois municipalities for municipal utility taxes, ensuring that payments are accurate and timely.  
•Manage unclaimed property for all Gas entities, working with SCS and PwC to file escheatment returns and payments on time.  Work with various business units to ensure that reissued checks are processed in a timely manner. 
•Work directly with internal and external auditors as required to respond to audit requests relating to accounts receivable or revenue.  
•Develop processes or approve processes developed by staff members as required for revenue.  
•Motivate and develop team members by coaching, training, and providing constructive feedback.  

 
Duties Discretion:

Employee receives clear instructions from supervisor regarding what to do and how to do it. 
Tasks follow set guidelines or procedures.  
Employee must consider alternative courses of action and then make a decision after considering the options. 
Employee has the authority to make significant choices and decisions, without specific guidance or direction from the supervisor. 
100%

Explanation:  This is a self-directed role, with the ability to make decisions independently on how to perform tasks.  Decisions which require a significant amount of time or a change to controls or accounting must be reviewed with the manager prior to commitment.  The employee is expected to present pros and cons and recommend a decision. 
 

Task Complexity:  

Tasks are straight-forward, routine, and often repetitive.  
Tasks are varied and fairly complex.  
Assignments are quite varied and highly complex. 
100%

Explanation: This role includes accounting review and approval, some of which can be routine, as well as project specific tasks and development of new processes, which tend to be more complex and require more analysis.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com. 

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf. Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.